----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Ryuma Chapter: 212 Chapter Title: The Iron Famine ----------------------------------------------------------------- "...?" Gun Do-sang, who had briefly lost consciousness, raised his head and glanced around. He was floating adrift in a vast darkness, an empty world devoid of anything. As he looked about, a question arose in his mind, and he tilted his head. "What in the world is going on?" He clearly remembered taking the Supreme Rejuvenation Pill bestowed upon him by the Cult Leader, but nothing after that came to mind. Pondering the sequence of events, Gun Do-sang soon reached a conclusion. 'My body couldn't handle it.' He could infer that injecting supreme vital energy into his frail, aged flesh had caused a backlash his body couldn't withstand. Was it greed beyond his station? Until recently, he had believed he harbored no desire to prolong his life. With the Heaven-Shattering Demon Sword—his life's masterpiece—complete, he had no further ambitions as a master forger. Yet the moment the Cult Leader granted him the pill, he realized his true feelings. 'I just want a few more years.' There were still things in life he wished to witness. He wanted to see his disciple, Fifth Artisan Shim Hyo, grow even a little more with his own eyes. After observing the creation of the Heaven-Shattering Demon Sword, Shim Hyo had gained some enlightenment and shown a dramatic leap in skill. At such a young age, he had already become the finest forger in Namdo Iron Gate aside from Gun Do-sang himself—a truly astonishing rate of growth. These days, there was no need to even offer guidance; simply watching brought a warm satisfaction. But in the end, his hope of observing the young man further had come to naught. 'I can't blame the Cult Leader for this.' The pill had been given out of pure goodwill; it was merely his body that had failed to endure it. Accepting his fate with resignation, he took stock of his situation. 'So what am I supposed to do here?' Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction. He flailed his limbs, but he couldn't move an inch from his spot. As doubts about this place began to form— "...!" Gun Do-sang's eyes flew wide open. He jerked his head down and clutched at his chest. 'What is this?' A moment ago, a shock like his heart was about to burst had felt vividly real. This sensation was no illusion. 'Urk!' Gun Do-sang let out a deep groan as pain struck again. It was no mistake. Immense agony accompanied the pounding of his heart, as if it might explode. The throbbing grew faster and stronger. Thump, thump, thump! Thump! Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump! 'Grrraaah...!' With a pained groan, Gun Do-sang curled up and gripped his chest. And right then— Booom— A wave rippled from his heart, surging through his entire body. A moment later. Flash! A brilliant light filled the vision of Gun Do-sang as his eyes snapped open. "Hahk! Hahk! Haaahk!" Panting heavily, Gun Do-sang slowly took in his surroundings. His private chamber. And beside him, the Cult Leader with a hand placed on his chest. Upon seeing this, Gun Do-sang pieced it together and spoke. "The Cult Leader saved my life once more." Hyeok Mulin replied flatly to his astonished expression. "I never imagined you'd faint. Even if you fully absorbed the pill, returning to work would be out of the question." In truth, Hyeok Mulin hadn't anticipated this outcome either. When he had taken the Supreme Rejuvenation Pill himself, it had merely banished his fatigue for a day or two, filling him with vigor. But Gun Do-sang's internal condition must have been far worse than it appeared. The instant he swallowed the pill, his breath stopped, and he slipped toward the gates of death. Had he taken it alone, revival would have been impossible in nine out of ten cases. Fortune had smiled upon him, with Hyeok Mulin at his side to pull him back with his power. Only someone wielding extreme pinnacle energy like him could have dragged a soul from the brink of death. Withdrawing the hand he had placed on Gun Do-sang's heart after channeling his energy, Hyeok Mulin asked slowly, "How's your body now?" "Well..." As Gun Do-sang shifted on the bed, he immediately sensed the changes—the vitality coursing through him. The pain in his waist vanished, and his body, once heavy as a stone, felt at ease. His labored breathing, blocked like a stuffed nose, normalized. Vitality now flowed through limbs that had barely twitched before. It wasn't enough for him to leap up and swing a hammer fiercely again, but compared to before, he could move without strain. Raising his upper body slowly, Gun Do-sang looked at Hyeok Mulin and said, "To grant me yet another chance at revival... I am forever indebted to you, Cult Leader. It shames me. How can I ever repay this...?" "Namdo Iron Gate's contributions to the Cult are repayment enough." "Cult Leader..." Moved, Gun Do-sang shook his head firmly. "No. Even the smallest task—I must be of some use to you. Please, command me freely." "Hm..." Hyeok Mulin pondered briefly before speaking. "In that case, I'd like to entrust you with crafting arms for the new unit under my command. Can you gather skilled forgers for the job?" Hyeok Mulin had come here partly to see the gate lord after some time, but his main purpose was to outfit the Heavenly Windstorm Corps with new weapons. Originally, the hunters' bows were cheap market purchases or hand-me-downs from their fathers. They had been using ill-fitting bows that didn't suit their builds or proportions, unaware of the mismatch. Hyeok Mulin planned to formally induct them into the Heavenly Demon Army by crafting custom bows tailored to each individual. 'The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad got their gear here too.' Even those demanding elites had praised it highly, so quality was beyond doubt. Thus, arming the new unit with personal weapons was his first step to bolster their strength and ensure unwavering loyalty. "Bows customized to each archer... Indeed, bows are weapons with great personal variance." "Arrows too, if possible." "Bow and arrow sets..." Gun Do-sang understood and agreed with Hyeok Mulin's intent. Unlike close-combat weapons, bows required consideration of height, arm length, and more. A proper fit alone could vastly improve their performance. And no one matched Namdo Iron Gate's arrowheads for penetration and lethality, making mass production here a sensible choice. However... Gun Do-sang trailed off, unable to continue, his face darkening as he avoided eye contact. Sensing something amiss, Hyeok Mulin asked, "Is there a problem?" "Well..." "I'll pay fair compensation—more than fair. Money's no issue." "That's not my concern at all. For the Cult Leader's Heavenly Demon Army, we'd craft them free of charge and still owe you." Then what was the issue? Hyeok Mulin reasoned it out briefly. Gun Do-sang wouldn't refuse a simple request. Not after the Heaven-Shattering Demon Sword, nor after today's events. His goodwill toward Hyeok Mulin pierced the heavens. Yet if he had no choice but to refuse— "Don't tell me Namdo Iron Gate is out of iron ore?" Having deduced it, Hyeok Mulin frowned and asked. Gun Do-sang squeezed his eyes shut and let out a deep sigh. "...
